The Gophers faced second-ranked Michigan on Saturday night without their leading rusher, Darius Taylor, while defensive end Danny Striggow was listed as questionable on the Big Ten availability report and saw action in the game.
Linebacker Cody Lindenberg was listed as questionable but was not in uniform for the game.
Joining Taylor as listed as out among prominent Gophers were wide receivers Le'Meke Brockington and Chris Autman-Bell. Brockington, the Gophers' third-leading pass catcher with five receptions for 73 yards, suffered a season-ending left leg injury last week against Louisiana. He was in crutches on the sideline. Autman-Bell, a seventh-year senior, is working his way back from a knee injury that ended his 2022 season in the fourth game. He has played in three games this season but does not have a reception.
Taylor, a true freshman, was on the field in early warmups with a wrap on his left leg and did some light jogging. He was injured late in the fourth quarter of the overtime loss at Northwestern. He did not play last week against Louisiana, and coach P.J. Fleck said he did not practice in the week leading up to that game. Taylor has rushed 87 times for 532 yards and four touchdowns in four games, and his 133 rushing yards per game entering Saturday led all FBS players.
With Taylor out, the Gophers used senior Bryce Williams and redshirt freshman Zach Evans as their primary runners. Evans carried 12 times for 45 yards, and Williams rushed 10 times for 40 yards in the 52-10 loss.
Lindenberg hasn't played yet this season because of a leg injury suffered in the week leading up to the opener against Nebraska. Last year, he ranked second on the team with 71 tackles and had four tackles for loss and one sack.
Striggow, who wore a brace on his left arm, appeared as questionable on the availability report for the first time. He led the Gophers with three sacks and was tied for the team lead with four tackles for loss.
• Gophers cornerback Justin Walley suffered what looked to be a shoulder injury in the first quarter. He left the game but quickly returned.
• In the third quarter, Gophers defensive tackle Kyler Baugh (leg) and defensive back Jack Henderson (arm) were injured on the same play and left the game. Baugh returned to the game, but Henderson went into the injury tent and was replaced by Craig McDonald.
QB recruit keeps impressing
Fayetteville, Ark., quarterback Drake Lindsey, who has verbally committed to the Gophers for the 2024 recruiting class, continues to have a productive senior season. Lindsey passed for 249 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions as Fayetteville High School defeated Fort Smith Southside 45-31 on Friday. For the season, Lindsey has passed for 2,002 yards and 27 TDs with one interception for the 6-0 Bulldogs.
Etc.
• Saturday's game against No. 2 Michigan was nationally broadcast by NBC. It marked the first time since the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1962, that the Gophers had appeared on a national NBC broadcast.
• Saturday's game was the second this season that the Gophers have faced an opponent ranked in the Associated Press poll. They lost 31-13 at then-No. 20 North Carolina, which now is No. 14. Minnesota also faces No. 4 Ohio State on Nov. 18 in Columbus.
• Michigan now leads the all-time series 77-25-3. When playing for the Little Brown Jug, the Wolverines lead 72-23-3.
• Former Gophers quarterback Rickey Foggie, who led Minnesota to a 20-17 win over No. 2 Michigan in 1986, gave the speech during Saturday's captains' breakfast.
